The Emperor Has No Clothes
Dr. Benjamin Carson is an incredible man with a fascinating life story, about which a movie was made starring Cuba Gooding Jr.
He is one of the most accomplished, talented neurosurgeons in the country. He came from a humble background with an illiterate mother (she dropped out of school in the 3rd grade) raising him and his brother under difficult circumstances. His violent temper had him on the way to a dark future until his mother intervened. She wouldn’t let the kids watch much TV and required them to write reports on 2 books from the library every week. This eventually turned Carson around. He went on to to earn a B. A. in psychology from Yale.
Carson eventually became a groundbreaking surgeon. He was the first to successfully separate twins who were conjoined at the tops of their heads. He was also the first to operate on adult conjoined twins with success. The operation took place in Singapore in 2003 with over 100 medical personnel and it lasted 52 hours. Basically, he is awesome.
All this does not do justice to his biography but it is important to know in order to appreciate his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast today, where President Obama was listening from mere feet away. These two men are complete opposites. Both men grew up with single moms under difficult circumstances, although Carson’s family may have been poorer. By the time they reach adulthood, however, they had taken divergent ideological paths.
In this short clip, Carson goes right to the heart of Obama’s worldview and dismantles it with a smile and cheerful tone. What’s even better is how indirect he is about it, though the President is sitting only a few feet away. Watch how Carson walks this tightrope and how Obama reacts (also keep an eye out for the priceless look on Senator Jeff Sessions' face).
I was struck by the fact that the audience welcomed Dr. Carson’s remarks. It seemed to add to the suspense of it all. I think he provides a great example to the GOP on how to convey their message in a winsome way. Senator Sessions seems to have been paying attention and I hope his colleagues do too.
For those who are interested, here is the full speech:
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Aug '10
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
WOW
WOW
I am in awe of the good doctor.
Beyond the brilliance, there is the message boring down on the party on the dais. His presence at the prayer breakfast was suitably rewarded by God's greatest gift - the Truth .
I bet that put a burr under his saddle, he is beyond instruction and his arrogance in the face of the truth means he was partially deaf when Dr Carson kindly warned him about not being politically correct.
Someone give this man a call, Ricochet would benefit greatly from a new guest editor.
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
If you haven't read "Gifted Hands: the Ben Carson Story," you need to. This is a truly amazing man. When my son was in high school, his Science Olympiad team went to Nationals at George Washington University. Ben Carson spoke. He so inspired my son that he is now studying Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology in college to become a cancer research scientist (and making all As, his proud mama says!). He gave my son, who struggled with self-image and confidence, hope that he could become a scientist.
Aug '12
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
At first I said -"we're just reading into this - he's talking about moral decay, but even demons can talk about moral decay." Then he started talking about the deficit and I thought, "OK, that's a little more specific." And then he started talking about Taxes, and I thought "Wow."
There might be a lesson here generally.
Jun '12
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Main Feed, stat.
Dec '11
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Maybe if we had more winsome we might actually win some. Reagan knew this and smiled all the way to the White House.
Dec '12
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
He is on the board of Costco Wholesale. Why hasn't he convinced the other members to come around to his point of view? Jim Sinegal is one of Obama's biggest fund-raisers.
I agree that he should be invited to join/edit.
Jan '12
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Great - thanks for sharing. That was inspirational!
Dec '12
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
A very brave man.
Apr '12
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
He speaks about lawyers being not the greatest political leaders. Agreed. They do want to win and spend their time by hook or by crook.
can Carson run for President?
his description of his mother is so sweet as she makes him write essays even though she could not read but he did not know it. Wonder if it registered with the guests?
Denise, congrats!
May '12
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Thanks for sharing Bereket and introducing me to Dr. Carson.
I think his message and presentation are outstanding I am just not sure the values he brings up so eloquently - fiscal responsibility, flat tax, etc. are values the GOP shares any longer.
Jul '10
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
I remember when his book came out. Wonderful man. We need more like him!
Nov '10
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Indaba: He speaks about lawyers being not the greatest political leaders. Agreed. They do want to win and spend their time by hook or by crook.
can Carson run for President?
Great idea. Except that he operated on my friend's little girl, and so I'm pretty attached to the idea of his continuing to save kids' lives.
Aug '10
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Remarkable -- the glare our beloved leader gives Dr Carson throughout this sequence really says it all, doesn't it?
The remarks on the flat tax are especially appreciated -- I live in a jurisdiction that is essentially flat-tax (i.e. Hong Kong) and it is hard to convey just how much difference it makes. Getting the USA to the point a flat tax could be implemented would be a long haul, but achieving it would unshackle the US economy and make so many people's lives better.
Dec '12
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
White House reporters are saying that Dear (Corpsman) Leader appeared to be exceedingly sleepy & Sec State (Reporting for Duty) Kerry started yawning about 7 minutes into the good Doctor's speech and never stopped. Maybe they'd be better off to go for the prayer brunch next year?
Jul '11
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
The thing is that those on the left have selective hearing. I am very sure that what Obama took from this speech would be a lot different than an average Ricochet member.
Nov '10
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Just out of curiosity, what do you suppose he heard? I have a hard time imagining in general what liberals hear when we speak.
Jul '12
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Seconded.
It turns out the made-for-tv movie about him is available streaming on Netflix.
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
2009
starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as Ben Carson
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Gifted_Hands_The_Ben_Carson_Story/70114497?locale=en-US
Not on any other streaming sites that I know of at the moment according to Clicker.
Oct '10
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
captainpower
Seconded.
It turns out the made-for-tv movie about him is available streaming on Netflix.
Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story
2009
starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as Ben Carson
http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Gifted_Hands_The_Ben_Carson_Story/70114497?locale=en-US
Not on any other streaming sites that I know of at the moment according to Clicker. · 2 minutes ago
Thanks for doing that. I was going to look it up.
Nov '11
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
Yes, the President sure didn't like that.
Dec '11
Re: The Emperor Has No Clothes
I like the story of the mother. It just goes to show that if you have to pick between knowledge and wisdom, pick wisdom. It reminded me of Judge Thomas's grandfather telling him can't was not acceptable.